Thursday, December 18, 2008

One most real German Shepherd Dog description found by my very personal experiences is that, he is a dog with intense sense of bondage with his own ones. He is a dog that can be called “caninestein” instead of just “canine”. Yes, the degree of intelligence that he possesses, has made him the most talked about breed all over the world. I'm really a happy owner of German Shepherd Dogs, but I can't deny the fact that his intelligence level have fooled me a number of times. Often I've seen him capable of thinking too deeply; even logically of a number of ways to get whatever he wants or to attract my attention. If not trained properly, intelligence of German Shepherds can be nightmare for his owners. Certain funny behaviors that seem to be cute in your GSD puppy today, can throw your life out of gear tomorrow, when he would grow to be a mighty wolf! Here's the importance of proper training. Find a few tips on training GSDs. Read on....

Teach Basic Commands to your German Shepherd

If you're envying to see your friend's well mannered king-size Shepherd, its YOU who's responsible for such discontentment of yourself. It's just a magic of 5 most common words! A well-behaved German shepherd knows to follow the 5 most important basic commands: Come, Sit, Down, Stay and Heel. Teaching these 5 basic actions will make your German Shepherd your most loved companion. This basic training can make life easier for both you and your shepherd. Most importantly, you can keep him and yourself cool and safe in any situation.

Train Your German Shepherd to act on the command “Come”

Step 1- Start off indoor. One full proved technique is to show him a treat and call him by his name. Repeat calling him by the name until he looks up at you.

Step 2 - As soon as he looks up at you, just say “Come”, showing him his treat with your hand a bit extended towards him.

Step 3 - Continue calling him by his name with the command word “Come”, showing him the treat.

Step 4 - Repeat the exercise the same way for the next couple of days.

Step 5 - Take him out on the third day – preferably early in the morning and in a quite place. Repeat the exercise for the next couple of days.

Step 6 - Gradually increase the distance between you and your puppy and repeat the same exercise.

Step 7 – Now it's time to encourage him to come running when called by his name , showing the treats.

Step 8 – Once you know that he has learned to respond correctly on the command “Come”, seeing the treat, slowly teach him to come on command without treat. This can be done by not giving the treat every time he comes. Instead of the treat, praise him lavishly for every right action on right command.

Train Your German Shepherd to act on the command “Sit”

Step 1- Start off outdoor. Choose a quite time (preferably early morning) and a quite place, where his concentration will not be broken by rushing vehicles and strolling guys. Begin with a little bit of strolling together so that he can enjoy being with you.

Step 2 - Make him stand right before you, so that you both stand face to face.

Step 3 - Hold a treat between your index finger and thumb. Hold it right over his nose and then move the treat straight back towards his croup slowly.

Step 4 - He should follow your finger and the treat. As you move your hand back towards his rear part, his rear part should move down to a sit; deliver the command “Sit”. If he doesn't, gently press his croup down in the process with the command “Sit”. As soon as he sits give him his treat.

Step 5 - If he doesn't sit even on pressing gently, don't treat him. Press the croup a bit harder and with love, deliver the command “Sit”.

Step 6 - The puppy will eventually sit, when the croup is pressed. As he tends to sit, deliver the command “Sit” and when he is completely seated say “Yes!” and treat him.

Step 7 – Once he completely learns to associate the command with the action, make him repeat the action on command over and over again followed by a brief walk each time.

Train Your German Shepherd to act on the command “Down”

Step 1 - Start off with your shepherd in sit position. Hold a treat between your index finger and thumb. Allow him to sniff it.

Step 2 - Move the treat down towards the floor.Gently slide the treat a bit away from his mouth. Don't allow him to get up to get it. If he does that, put him back to the sit position and repeat the exercise again.

Step 3 - As he prepares to lie down following the treat, give the command “Down”.

Step 4 - Once he lies down properly, pat him gently to make him feel that you are pleased with him; offer him his treat.

Step 5 - Repeat the exercise over and over again following a brief heel and then “Sit” exercise each time.

Step 6 - Once he completely learns to lie down on command after sit, start training him to go to the “Down Position” straight from the “Standing Position”.

Train Your German Shepherd to act on the command “ Stay”

Step 1 - Keep your dog in the “Down Position”, then step in front of him; place your palm on his head.

Step 2 - Keep an eye-to-eye contact, which is necessary and Deliver the command “Stay”, in a bit firm but calm voice.

Step 3 - Let stay motionless for a few seconds. Lean down and say “YES”.

Step 4 - Repeat it if he tries to move and raise up his head. Keep him motionless for another few seconds and say “YES”.

Step 5 - After few seconds release him from motionlessness by saying “OKAY”. Treat him on success.

Step 6 - Repeat the practice and gradually increase the time of STAY. Don't treat him until your desired time of Stay is successfully accomplished. Step 7 - Once he learns to be in “Stay Position”. Repeat the exercise with various time span in mix and match basis.

Train Your German Shepherd to act on the command “ Heel” (Heeling on leash)

Step 1 - Start off with the flat buckle collar – not choke/check chain. Put him on the collar and take him out.

Step 2 - He will try to pull. Check him tight to halt and wait a moment until he relaxes. Loosen up the leash a bit once he's calm. Once he comes to a halt and stops pulling, say “GOOD DOG” and treat him

Step 3 - Deliver the command “Let's Heel” and start heeling.

Step 4 - Repeat the exercise until he learns that pulling is not appreciated. Treat him only after a relaxed heeling.

Step 5 - Slowly he will learn not to pull. But he can continue to pull if sees any other dog, cat or a goat. In such a situation make him turn straight to other direction and continue heeling following the command “Let's Heel”. Treat him thereafter.

Monday, December 15, 2008

Almost a dozen times in a month I get phone calls from people around my locality and even from far and wide, inquiring about the ways to train up their German Shepherds. Interestingly most of them have already put their German Shepherd on training sessions, but the sadly many of them turn up with loads of complains. Let me tell you that stubbornness and aggression are not typical characteristics of German Shepherd Dogs. These are the consequence of improper training. Believe me, there's no word like “Bad Dog”, the owners, handlers and trainers may be bad and compel their dogs to behave in the way they should not! If your shepherd have are developing bad habits, you are responsible for that – don't blame him! It's due to the lack of socialization and bad training that a dog become what they shouldn't be.

As for my first German Shepherd Dog training tips, Stop Muzzle your GSD Immediately! If a trainer suggests you to muzzle your dog, just move on... look for another good trainer. No point wasting time talking to him regarding dog training. Remember, no reputable dog trainer or canine behaviorist will ask you to muzzle your dog. There are other good ways to control your dog if he is aggressive to other dogs.

Training German Shepherd Dogs is an art, to be mastered properly before actually you start training a GSD. Here's how to train German Shepherd Dogs.

Be Gentle While Training a GSD

German Shepherd dog training can be perfectly accomplished by starting at an early age. If you lose your patience and temperament you are an utter flop in this field. Undesirable behaviors have to be dealt with in the most consistent manner. Loving lavishly during the training session won't work; being too harsh to him would be a bad idea either! Things must be dealt with in a gentle manner. Hitting and yelling at him will make your work tougher.

Use His Intelligence

German Shepherd Dog is the world's most intelligent breed after Border Collie and Poodle. He can learn things faster than many of the other dog breeds. This reveals a great opportunity for you, if you are a dog trainer; encash this opportunity! Don't forget to reward him for all positive behaviors with treats and lavish praises. Be consistent in this. You will get to know how smart your German Shepherd puppy is! Remember that German Shepherd Dogs have the inherent quality to distinguish goods from the bads! Your GSD's behavior may be modified at any point of time almost throughout his life.

Early Start Off

Start off training your German Shepherd Dog at an age as early as around 6 months. This will make life easier for both – you and your dog. Letting the problems go unaddressed may be nightmare for you as a GSD owner.

House Training Your German Shepherd Dog

House training German Shepherd Dog is unquestionably a great idea. Once a dog properly housebroken he would never uses the house for his toilet. House breaking your German shepherd puppy can be an easy process or difficult as well depending on the method you follow. Remember it starts on the you bring your GSD puppy home. Right after you bring your puppy home, take him out on a leash to the potty spot as per his choice. Don't carry him to it's potty spot. As soon he reaches the spot, just deliver the command – one single word you would use for him for potty. Be consistent. German Shepherds are very smart to learn things quickly. You have to be a patient and keep an eye on your shepherd all the day. When you see the toilet or potty signs take your GSD puppy out to his potty area. Common signs are circling, floor scratching, ground sniffing and running here and there looking for an apt place for potty.

Chewing Things

All German Shepherd puppies chew on things – sometimes his own body parts. It's a normal behavior – as normal as heartbeats! Just don't be worried. All you need to do is to divert his attention by putting him to play with other puppies and stuff. If he chews you finger... don't let him do that. A single approach to say one word of dissatisfaction (for instance “Uffff or ouch”) in response to the behavior with moderately strict voice can be a good method. But don't forget to get out of the room, leaving him alone for a while. Repeat things as many time as he tries to chew your thumb.Socializing GSD

Early age socialization is of utmost importance. While an unsocialized German Shepherd may be a nightmare for you, a properly socialized GSD puppy can make the most precious companion. Start of the Socialization session before he is 3 months old. Just try out these few full proved approaches.

Call over your friends and let your German Shepherd Puppy mingle with them.

Let your friends come with their pets. Don't allow aggressive pets.

Take your puppy to your friends' places.

Take him out nearby where he can see mobs and can experience strange sounds like screeching car, blowing horns, and sounds of heavy vehicles.

Take your GSD puppy for short car rides.

Make him acquainted with the process of bathing, brushing ear cleaning, nail clipping etc.

Positive Reinforcement

Since GSD is one of the most intelligent dog breeds, it takes comparatively less time to train a German Shepherd Dog, provided you follow the most effective training method – Positive Reinforcement. This is a method to condition your Shepherd's most desirable behaviors. This involves two simple approaches:

Rewarding for your Shepherd's every single desirable behavior

Not rewarding accompanied by showing expression of dissatisfaction for every single undesirable behavior.

He would soon understand when he would get a reward and when he wouldn't.

Be The Alfa member of The Pack

Make your German Shepherd understand the fact that you are the Alfa member and he must listen to you. This will make your training session go smooth. This should not take too long – especially for a GSD puppy , because as puppies can learn things faster then you think. He can grab a number of things at the same time. So along side the basic obedience training and housebreaking your GSD puppy , you can train him not to jump on people and to sit and stay quite whenever you want.
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All you need to know about German Shepherd Dogs. Read out what I have to share with you regarding the amazing German Shepherd Dog breed. Are Alsatian dogs and German Shepherd Dogs same? Who was Max Von Stephanitz and What is SV? Also learn a bit more in depth on German Shepherd Dog training tips, German Shepherd puppy care tips, German Shepherd Dog behavior, German Shepherd instinct, German Shepherd Dog standard and history of German Shepherds.